Brussels, 10/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - Andris Piebalgs, European Development Policy Commissioner, is to make an official visit to the Republic of Sudan from 12 to 14 May, and to South Sudan from 13 to 14 May, the first visit by a European official since the referendum held on 9 January on South Sudan's independence. The aim of the visit is twofold - to ensure that Sudan remains one of the EU priorities in Africa, and to confirm the EU's commitment to do everything possible to support South Sudan on the international scene after its independence on 9 July this year.
“I want to assure you that the European Union stands ready to support the country and people of South Sudan at this critical juncture. We are committed to doing all we can to help the country's poorest people so that they are able to look to a more optimistic future when it begins work on 9 July”, the commissioner states in a press release on 10 May. In Khartoum, Piebalgs is to meet Sudanese Vice-President Ali Osman Taha and, in Djuba, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardiit. Meetings are also foreseen with representatives of the two governments and of the international donor community. (A.N./transl.jl)